It is well documented that the storylines in The West Wing mimic real life situations with amazingly accurate attention to detail and Season 3 is no exception. The White House staff cope with the threat of terrorist attacks, a church shooting, an American spy submarine losing contact in hostile North Korean waters and the proposal of a new poverty income index that will reclassify millions of Americans as poor. CJ receives a death threat and is assigned a Secret Service agent that she feels more than just professional respect for. And a variety of clangers are made with the press that have to be managed.

Underscoring all of this is the investigation into Bartlet's non-disclosure of his illness, and the campaign battle for re-election, reflecting the currect situation with President Bush in the US. On a lighter note Bartlet tries to work out how to cook a gourmet turkey at Thanksgiving, Sam is interviewed for Vanity Fair, Donna is offered a lucrative job outside the White House and Josh is embarrassed by a fan based website devoted to him.

Featuring the following episodes -

ISAAC AND ISHMAEL
A special episode of the Emmy Award-winning series, dealing with some of the questions and issues currently facing the world in the wake of the recent terrorist attacks on the United States. "The West Wing" creator and executive producer Aaron Sorkin wrote the script.

MANCHESTER, Part I
STORM CLOUDS GATHER OVER WHITE HOUSE IN PART I OF TWO-PART SEASON PREMIERE -- In the season premiere, flashbacks reveal how the President (Martin Sheen) will officially announce his plans to run for re-election, which sends his staff into disarray as they work on the speech. But two problems dog them when Sam (Rob Lowe) realizes that Bartlet never apologized for not disclosing his multiple sclerosis while C.J. (Allison Janney) makes a crucial gaffe during a press conference. Meanwhile, the President must decide if he should greenlight a military rescue of the besieged U.S. embassy in Haiti and chief counsel Babish (guest star Oliver Platt, "Bulworth") informs Charlie (Dule Hill) to hire his own expensive lawyer before a special prosecutor begins looking into Bartlet's possible concealment of his illness. John Spencer, Bradley Whitford, Richard Schiff, Stockard Channing and Janel Moloney also star. Oscar winner Marlee Matlin ("Children of a Lesser God") also guest-stars.

MANCHESTER, Part II
TURMOIL CHURNS INSIDE WHITE HOUSE AS PRESIDENT PONDERS MAJOR ANNOUNCEMENT IN PART II OF SEASON PREMIERE -- In the second part of the season premiere, flashbacks reveal the President (Martin Sheen) as he refines his speech for a major re-election announcement while his staff works uneasily with a heavyweight political strategist (guest star Ron Silver) over whether Bartlet should include a public apology in his remarks. Meanwhile, C.J. (Allison Janney) considers drastic action in the wake of her ill-timed statements during a crucial press conference. In addition, Bartlet tries to patch up a misunderstanding with his wife Abbey (Stockard Channing). The President must also decide if he will accede to the requests of a corrupt Haitian leader that could lead to peace. Chief counsel Babish (guest star Oliver Platt, "Bulworth") shocks Charlie (Dulé Hill) with the probable cost of hiring a fancy lawyer since a special prosecutor is preparing to ask him tough questions. John Spencer, Richard Schiff, Bradley Whitford and Janel Moloney also star. Oscar winner Marlee Matlin ("Children of a Lesser God") also guest-stars.

WAYS AND MEANS
DOGGED SPECIAL PROSECUTOR PROMPTS C.J. TO PLAY A DANGEROUS POLITICAL GAME -- When a fearless special prosecutor (guest star Nicholas Pryor) begins investigating the President's (Martin Sheen) non-disclosure of his illness and issues subpoenas to the White House staff, C.J. (Allison Janney) cannily tries to light a backfire by dropping clues to the press that might ultimately force the replacement of the prosecutor with someone more favorable to the Administration. Elsewhere: a real forest fire rages in Wyoming but the governor is incensed when Bartlet backs the forestry experts who believe the fire should just burn itself out; the President is in a political bind as he decides whether or not to push for the repeal of the estate tax -- or "the death tax," as labeled by his savvy rivals, and a wary Donna (Janel Moloney) goes out on a blind date with a charming Republican (guest star Mark Feuerstein, "What Women Want") who might represent a conflict of interest. John Spencer, Rob Lowe, Richard Schiff, Bradley Whitford, Dule Hill and Stockard Channing also star.